Swimming device



May 19,1925. 1,538,544

R. Dl RENZO SWIMMING DEVICE Filed sept. 12. 1924 maar@ 222' 3m zo 1 INVENTOR ATTQRNEY.

shown in full lines,

Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ROSARIO DI RENZO, or PORTLAND, MAINE.

svsriiviiviiNe Davies.

i Application led September 12, 1924. Serial No. 737,409.

To all lwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Rosaiiio Di RENZO, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at i. Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented new and uses ful Improvements in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to swimming de vices, and contemplates a device designed to be readily and easily attached to the foot and leg of the user, and including-a pair of hingedly mounted wings adapted to fold at the sides of the leg when the foot is moved inwardly and to unfold and extend laterally from the leg when the foot is moved outwardly, thus providing a large'area of surface which retards the outward movement of the foot, and thus materially assists or aids the user in in the water. i

In carrying outthe invention I comprehend a device of the above mentioned chai-- acter which is simple in construction so that it can be manufactured and soldat a nominal cost7 with the wings so arranged that when the device is attached to thefoot and leg, said wings will normallyoccupy an out of the way position so as notI tointerfere with walking. n f

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing how the attachment is arranged on the foot and leg of the user.

pushing himself forwardly Figure 2 is a view showing vthe device removed and taken at a right angle to Figure 1, the normal position of the wings being tions illustrated by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a view taken at a right angle to Figure 2 showing one of the wings in its active position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the device.

The device forming the subject matter of the present invention includes a substantially U-shaped member which is adapted to with its and their active posi-k be arranged beneath the instep of the user, parallel yportions `10 arranged v at tlieopposite sides of the leg. is`held attached yto the -leg by means of straps 11 whiclitare adapted to encircle the leg, each strap being providedwitli a buckle l12 as shown. constructed from metal, 4leather or any suitable material,y and vary in sizewithout departing Carried by each parallel portion 10 of the U-'shape member is a wing 13, and when the device is placed upon the foot and leg `of the user, these wings occupy positions `at oppositesidesiof the leg, and suiliciently above the ground so as not to interfere with walking. adjacent parallel portion 10-of the U-shape member by a hinge 14 thus permittingthe said wings to normally occupy the'positions shown by full lines jin Figure `9 iii which positions the wings are arranged parallel with the portions 10 of the Uvshape member,

`each wing'13 and the U-sliape' member `to limit the movement. of said wing to its active* position as will be readily understood. Manifestly, when the device is arranged upon the foot and leg of the user as shown in This member from the spirit of the invention.

Each wing 13 is attached to the Figure 1, and the leg is drawn inwardly during the act of swimming the wings move toward each other to their normal positions, so as not to otter any resistance to the move-- ment of the leg in the direction mentioned.

However when the foot and leg are moved i outwardly, the wings 13 eachother to their active by dotted lines in Figure with the bottom of the foot a large area which offers considerable resistance to the outward movement of the foot, and leg, which of coursev assists the user in pushing` himself `forwardly in the water. .n

While it is believed that from the fore# going description, the nature and advaiitages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that move away from positions, shown `Ijdo not limit myself to what is herein shown and described, and that suchchanges may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is:

Y `In a swimming' device, substantially U- shaped narrow member' adapted to be passed 2, thus providing.

beneath the instep .of the foot-toit `the usci', means 'oI-,attachingitlie parallel ypol-tions et said member to the ankle, relatively wide Wings mounted on the prai'allel portions and projecting an appresiable distance beyond both sides thereof, a hinge connectngeach Wing with the adjacent paiallel portion, each hinge including spaced `side :platee rse; cured to the adjacent edges of-tlie Ushaped memberand projectingbeyond-the opposed 10 lWidth, and la. flexible element terminally connected with' each' Wing and the U-shaped imember-to limit the outward n'lovement of 15 the Wing.

:Initestimony whereof I alix my signature.

Y ROSARIO D; RENZO. 

